Closure of 3 WV Coal-Fired Plants Looms - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Closure of 3 WV Coal-Fired Plants Looms

FAIRMONT (AP) -

Three coal-fired power plants in West Virginia will soon stop generating electricity.

Saturday will be the last day of power generation for FirstEnergy Corp.'s plants in Albright, Rivesville and Willow Island.

FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin told The Times-West Virginian that some workers likely will remain on the job for a short period. They will deactivate the plants and take care of permits and environmental regulations.

The plants employ a total 210 workers.

FirstEnergy also plans to close six coal-fired operations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Ohio-based utility attributes the closures to new federal environmental regulations aimed at reducing emissions of mercury and other toxic pollution.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.